Dubai Urban Elements Design Challenge competition Honorable mention winner - Nicholas Michael Adams

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce the Honorable Mention winner of our Dubai Urban Elements Design Challenge – Nicholas Michael Adams from New Zealand!

Nicholas Michael Adams

Please tell us about your company (when it was founded, where it is based, how many employees, etc) Alternatively, if you do not have a company, please give us some insights on your own professional/academia background.

My background is in Architecture, graduating with a Master’s Degree in Architecture from Unitec Institute of Technology in Auckland, New Zealand. My company, Nichólas Adams Associates was founded in 2025

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance, what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where the company/ individuals have been Involved?

Notable projects include the design and current construction of New Zealand's smallest LEB Certified Passive House, located in the rural countryside North of Auckland.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

Architecture to me is a pursuit of clarity, calm and order. I believe the role of an architect is of a mediator - to first listen deeply, and then to respond with self-effacing restraint.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Architecture competitions offer an opportunity to develop and expand an architectural premise within a defined period of time through research, rapid design iteration and final presentation. The key outcome is to learn, while in the process broadening your skill set and value offering.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture competitions?

I believe there will always be a beneficial outcome or result from investing time and energy into an idea, an area of interest, or a cause you believe in. Architecture competitions provide an opportunity to invest; to believe in yourself and your idea, and to experience personal growth and a sense of accomplishment.